About

The Working Heritage Incorporated Committee of Management (Working Heritage) conserves and manages heritage properties on Crown land on behalf of the State of Victoria. Since its inception in 1998, Working Heritage (known as The Mint Inc from 1998 to 2015) has been appointed to manage 16 sites across Victoria, undertaking expert conservation and adaptation works so the community can benefit from these revitalised historic buildings and sites.  

The Former Royal Mint Site. Photographs by Hin Lim

Our Organisation

Working Heritage is an incorporated Committee of Management appointed by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978. The Committee is supported by an Executive Officer and a small team of staff who manage Working Heritage’s projects and operations.

Our Approach

We are non-profit and self-funded. Funding for our work is generated by the places we manage. Our buildings and land are leased to a mix of tenants including restaurants, art organisations, community groups and commercial businesses. Working with tenants we conserve cultural significance, develop compatible uses and adapt buildings to suit contemporary needs. These places have special qualities that draw people to them, and by creating new purpose they can continue to be physical touchstones of community identity.

Committee Members

Kerry Anderson (OAM)

Appointed 2018

Chair, Committee of Management

With a background in small business and a strong advocate for entrepreneurs, Kerry Anderson has managed Startup Central Victoria across the Loddon Campaspe region since 2021 and previously worked with rural towns Australia-wide. She is the author of two books; Entrepreneurship: It’s Everybody’s Business (2016) and Australian Rural Entrepreneurs (2020) and frequently speaks at national and international conferences and events. 

In 2018, Kerry was named as one of Australia’s Top 50 Regional Agents-of-Change and awarded the Regional Innovation Ecosystem Leadership Award. 

A graduate of the Australian Company Directors Course, Kerry also serves as Chair of the Mt Alexander Community Enterprise and is a volunteer tour guide at Buda Historic Home & Garden in Castlemaine. Previously she was Deputy Chair of Castlemaine Health’s Board of Management and Chair of the Finance Sub-committee. 

Kerry was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) General Division for her services to business and community, on 26 January 2022.

Borz Shahsavand

Appointed 2018

Borz is the Chief Executive Officer of Sustain Group, a leading sustainability focused asset management company building and managing commercial properties. Having held senior executive positions within leading design, construction and facility management companies across Australia, he has made it his mission to leave a legacy of sustainable change in the property sector.

Borz’s passion is to constantly improve on the total cost of ownership and facilitate a broader view of facility management practices that cover utilities and risk of operations. 

Borz holds a Masters of Corporate Sustainability Management, undergraduate Aerospace and Mechanical engineering degrees from Monash University as well as postgraduate qualifications in contract law and project management. Borz is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Trudy Rickard

Appointed 2021

Trudy is the principal architect of Trudy Rickard Architect, the firm she established in 2005. Based in South West Victoria, the firm undertakes a variety of commercial and residential architectural work, with an emphasis on heritage conservation projects. Trudy has been the Heritage advisor at Southern Grampians Shire Council since 2010, Glenelg Shire since 2023, and was the heritage conservation architect for the City of Greater Bendigo in both the Statutory Planning and Property departments from 2015 to 2021. 

The firm has carried out heritage work for numerous individuals and organisations including the National Trust Australia (Victoria), the councils of Moyne, Glenelg, and Warrnambool as well as for Parks Victoria and Worn Gundidj enterprises at Tower Hill. They seek to promote good conservation practice while incorporating sympathetic, modern architectural design that supports contemporary, sustainable use.

Aman Gaur

Appointed 2024

Aman works in public policy with academic training in law and economics. Driven by the need for progressive policy, he currently works for an NGO advocating for electric vehicles to reduce our carbon emissions. Outside of work, Aman enjoys community sport and is trying to develop a green thumb.

Matthew Balmford

Appointed 2024

Matt applies his public policy, strategy, economic, financial and governance expertise to improve the interface between the government, private and community sectors. 

He is a Director with Asia Pacific advisory firm Sapere where he mostly supports state and federal government departments and agencies to deliver public value more effectively and efficiently, through strategy development, program design, business cases, evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, financial analysis and other advice. He previously worked as a public servant across all three levels of government.

In recent years, Matt has been introduced to the challenges and opportunities of conserving and activating heritage buildings and precincts, through helping develop several major NSW Government creative infrastructure projects involving heritage sites and being a former board/committee member of a not-for-profit cultural organisation with Victorian Heritage Register-listed premises.

Edwina Jans

Appointed 2024

Edwina Jans is a Principal and Head of GML Heritage Victoria. She has over 20 years of experience in cultural leadership with a background in national and state cultural institutions, heritage places, government and consulting, and expertise in heritage planning, policy development and engagement. 

Edwina is a recognised advocate for twentieth century heritage and is a director of Canberra Modern, an award-winning non-profit association that promotes protection and appreciation of Canberra’s unique mid and late twentieth century places and spaces through event-based advocacy, partnerships and community participation. She is a former member of the ACT Heritage Council and has served on the boards of Australia ICOMOS and the ICOMOS 2023 General Assembly. 

Edwina is a Churchill Fellow and has been recognised for her work through numerous awards including from the Australian Institute of Architects, National Trust, Australian Museums and Galleries Association, and the Australian Public Service.

Arthur Athanasopoulos

Appointed 2024

Arthur served for over 12 Years as Mayor and Councilor at the City of Kingston, serving on the Chair Access & Equity Committee, Audit Committee, and Festivals Committee. 

Arthur is the CEO of Metal Rainwater Goods and Building Products Group, specialising in manufacturing and business management. He has additional experience in manufacturing and over 10 years' experience in mechanical services, heavy and light metal manufacturing, fabrication and contracting. 

As Regional General Manager, Arthur has been responsible for: finance, trade, equipment, people, customers, annual budgets, shareholders, sales & risk management. 

Arthur also held various roles in Business and Commercial Banking and Finance for over 10 years.

Arun Kumar

Appointed 2024

Arun is an Emeritus Professor at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, in the School of Property, Construction, and Project Management including sustainability and environment. 

He has worked at Department of Roads Victoria (VicRoads), Sinclair Knight Mertz Consultants (now Jacobs), and currently serves as an independent external reviewer for major infrastructure projects (Major Projects Victoria) for the Department of Treasury and Finance, Victoria. The reviews include advice on planning, business case development, cost benefit analysis, risk management, sustainability and environment, climate change, procurement and delivery on major infrastructure projects to ensure their sustainability and successful delivery. 

He has served as regional Vice President for the International Society for Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Transport Infrastructure; Board Member Engineers Without Borders, Australia; Editor-in-Chief Infrastructure Asset Management Journal, Institution of Civil Engineers UK. He has been affiliated with The World Bank as an Advisor/Consultant in the field of transport and infrastructure development, sustainability, carbon footprint and climate change for over 20 years and has worked in countries including USA, India, China, Southeast Asia and Africa.

Core Staff

Sally Jones

Chief Executive Officer

Sally joined the Working Heritage team in June 2024.

She has a robust academic background that encompasses education, marketing, business, and law. With extensive experience and a proven track record in property management, strategic partnerships and community engagement, Sally offers a strategic, multidisciplinary perspective to her role.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending her time traveling and gardening.

Graham O Callaghan

Property Manager

Having joined the Working Heritage team in 2021 in the role of Property Manager, Graham brings with him over 15 years of experience in various property related fields.

Honesty and integrity, along with determination and dedication are philosophies Graham strives for in all aspects of life, with particular focus on his clients and achieving the right results. As a fully licenced Estate Agent Graham, brings a wealth of knowledge in property management, sales, contract law as well as overall business management.

Graham has a keen interest in Heritage, Architecture, and Sustainability along with working on large building projects.

Samantha Pertzel

Business Partnerships Manager

Working Heritage's longest-serving staff member, Samantha, has been with the organisation since 2011, when it was known as Mint Inc.

Samantha has a degree in Media Arts from RMIT University. In a previous life she lived and worked overseas.

Samantha has a natural affinity for organising and management. She is interested in the unique opportunities that heritage places offer artists, artisans, makers and community groups.

Outside of work she spends her time reading and making, and most recently catalogued her vinyl collection according to mood.

Rachel Neely

Office Coordinator

Rachel joined Working Heritage in August 2022, bringing with her a wealth of experience in office support & administration. Growing up in rural England, surrounded & fascinated by heritage buildings, Rachel connects deeply with Working Heritage's vision and ambitions.

Away from work Rachel enjoys spending time with her family & friends, travelling, and puzzling.

Neergaard

Senior Project Manager

Neergard brings a wealth of project management and community engagement experience. He has experience in the commercial, health, education and government sectors. Neergard has a degree in architecture and engineering as well as a Masters in strategy, economics and organisational psychology. Outside Working Heritage, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Sandi Rao

Marketing & Communications Officer

Sandi joined Working Heritage in 2022. She has a master's degree in Marketing Communications. As a social media enthusiast, she also has a keen interest in content marketing and storytelling. She is fascinated by the process of adaptive reuse and breathing life into old structures.

Outside of work, she spends her time dancing, traveling and blogging.

Nancy Xu

Payroll Officer

Nancy joined the Working Heritage team in 2022 as a finance and payroll officer.

She has a degree in accounting and is a certified practicing accountant. Before joining Working Heritage, Nancy took various accounting roles in accounting firms and not-for-profit organisations.

Outside of work, Nancy has an interest in history, collecting wood crafts, and a passion for the Japanese garden.

Newsletters

Our Publications

Reconciliation Action Plans

Strategic Plan

The South Melbourne Temperance Hall. Photographs by Peter Glenane